Aptitude test system

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to an aptitude test system ( 4 ) which includes at least one object ( 1 ) which is provided with a data carrier ( 2 ) on which data associated with the object ( 1 ) is stored, as well as a test device ( 5 ) which includes a reading apparatus ( 6 ) whereby the data of the data carrier ( 2 ) can be transfer-red to a computer ( 7 ). The data includes aptitude data which characterizes at least one permissible application for the associated object ( 1 ). The computer ( 7 ) has access to current application data which characterizes a concrete application intended for the relevant object ( 1 ). For aptitude testing of the relevant object ( 1 ) the computer evaluates the aptitude data thereof and the actual application data. The computer ( 7 ) outputs a release signal when the object ( 1 ) is suitable for the intended application.

The present invention relates to an aptitude test system for testing anobject in respect of its aptitude for an actual intended application.

In the field of so-called “point of care diagnosis” it is commonpractice to take a sample of a body fluid, for example, blood or urine,from a patient and to evaluate it already in the vicinity of thepatient, for example, at the bedside, in the room, at the (intensivecare) station or still in the hospital. The analysis of the fluidsample, and hence the diagnosis resulting therefrom, can thus beperformed substantially faster than in the case of a customary procedurewhere the sample of the body fluid must first be sent to a centrallaboratory.

In particular so-called “cartridges” in which the relevant fluid sampleis introduced are used for the point of care diagnosis. After theintroduction of the body fluid, the cartridge is inserted into ananalysis device in order to analyze the sample. Such cartridges containinter alia chemicals which are required for the analysis of the relevantfluid sample. Such chemicals, which may also include calibration fluids,usually have a limited keeping quality only, because they are liable,for example, to disintegrate and/or dry out when stored too long. Inorder to enable the cartridges or their chemicals to be used for as longas possible, the cartridges customarily are individually packed in apacking (notably sealed therein) which is gastight and/or protects thecartridge against light, notably ultraviolet light. Such a packing iscustomarily provided with further information as regards the cartridgeaccommodated therein, for example, the type of cartridge as well as adate of expiry. Moreover, the packing may also be provided with acalibration code as well as a batch code. The indications given asregards the type of cartridge as well as the date of expiry constituteaptitude data characterizing the applications permissible for theassociated cartridge.

In order to carry out a point of care diagnosis for which such acartridge is used, the applicator or user, that is, notably a nurse,must check, already before opening the packing, whether the correct typeof cartridge is concerned and whether the date of expiry has alreadybeen passed. If this check is forgotten or not performed correctly, thediagnosis device, in which the cartridge is inserted for the analysis ofthe sample contained therein, will recognize the error only aftertime-consuming calibration. Thus, on the one hand a loss of time isincurred and on the other hand the fluid sample taken may thus becomeunusable, so that the patient must be burdened again in order to take afurther a fluid sample.

The checking of the date of expiry could easily be incorrectly performedor omitted because of the pressures of time often occurring in nursing,so that further time delays may be incurred.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an aptitude testsystem which simplifies the testing of an object for its aptitude for anactual intended application.

This object is achieved in accordance with the invention in the mannerdisclosed in the independent claim. Advantageous embodiments aredisclosed in the dependent claims.

The invention is based on the general idea to provide, notably in thecourse of its manufacture, the object to be tested with a data carrieron which the aptitude data is stored in a machine-readable form, saiddata characterizing one or more permissible applications for theassociated object. The proposed aptitude test system also includes atest device with a reading Apparatus which is constructed in such amanner that it can transfer the data from the data carrier to a computerwhich is suitably coupled to the reading apparatus. The computer in itsturn has access to actual application data which characterizes an actualor concrete application for the relevant object. The computer can thenperform an aptitude test on the relevant object by comparing theaptitude data thereof with the actual application data. Should thecomputer in the course of this aptitude test determine that the actualtested object is suitable for the intended concrete application, thecomputer can output an appropriate release signal. Alternatively, oradditionally, the computer can output an appropriate alarm signal whenthe aptitude test reveals that the relevant object is not suitable forthe actual intended application. The use of machine-readable data on theobject as well as a suitable reading apparatus enables transfer errorsas well as errors occurring during the evaluation of the data to beminimized. The reliability that the released object is indeed suitablefor the actual intended application is enhanced by means of the aptitudetest system in accordance with the invention.

As regards the previously mentioned example concerning the point of carediagnosis, the foregoing means that the cartridge, or the packingthereof, is provided with the data carrier which contains at least thedate of expiry of the cartridge or its chemicals as aptitude data. Thecomputer of the test device knows the current date and can thus simplydetermine whether the use of the tested cartridge is still permissible.Depending on the aptitude test, the computer can then trigger, forexample, the emission of a green or a red light signal which can bereadily identified by the relevant user.

In an advantageous further embodiment, the test device may be coupled toa processing device which processes the relevant object in dependence onthe result of the aptitude test. This step enables expensive and/ortime-consuming processing of the object to be avoided when the aptitudetest reveals that the relevant object is not suitable for the actualintended application. This processing device may in principle beconstructed in an arbitrary manner and carry out an arbitrary processingof the object, be it that such processing should not be the intendedapplication.

In a preferred further embodiment said processing device is constructedto open a packing in which the object to be tested is packed. If theresult of the aptitude test is positive, the computer instructs theprocessing device to open the packing. If the result of the aptitudetest is negative, the packing is not opened. Consequently, the userdirectly recognizes whether the tested object is suitable for theintended use or not. The processing device may also be constructed, forexample, in such a manner that it feeds the unusable objects in a closedpacking still to an appropriate storage container.

When this embodiment is used for the described example, the user feedsthe cartridge still packed in its packing to the processing device.Prior to the opening of the packing, the aptitude of the cartridge istested therein, that is, notably its date of expiry. In as far as theuse of this cartridge is still permissible, its packing is automaticallyopened, and otherwise it is not. The user can thus remove exclusively apermissible cartridge from its packing. In this embodiment the testingof the aptitude data, notably the date of expiry, can no longer beforgotten prior to the use of the cartridge, that is, in as far as theopening of the packing is performed exclusively by means of theprocessing device.

Even though the testing of cartridges intended for point of carediagnosis concerns a preferred application of the aptitude test systemin accordance with the invention, all kinds of other objects can inprinciple be tested for aptitude by means of a correspondinglyconstructed test device. Notably in the medical field there areimportant further applications, one of which will be described by way ofexample hereinafter. The object to be tested may be a medicament or acombination of medicaments. This medicament or combination ofmedicaments is suitable for patients with a given clinical picture andnotably have a given physical constitution. The associated aptitude datainclude above all identification data enabling identification of themedicament or the combination of medicaments. Moreover, the aptitudedata may again include a date of expiry. The data carrier may beprovided, for example, on a packing of the medicament or the combinationof medicaments. Before this medicament or combination of medicaments isadministered to a given patient, the aptitude test is performed; forthis test the computer knows the patient data of the actual patientwhich is necessary for the medication of this patient. For example, suchpatient data includes an indication that the relevant patient may beadministered only a given medicament or only a given combination ofmedicaments. Additionally, or alternatively, the patient data may alsoinclude information enabling the computer to test, on the basis of theclinical picture and notably the physical constitution of the relevantpatient, whether the intended medication is suitable for this patient.The patient data may also include a medication timetable on the basis ofwhich the computer can determine whether the intended medication ispermissible or not at the current instant. Additionally, the date ofexpiry of the intended medication can also be tested. In this embodimentincorrect medication can be avoided better. The protection againstincorrect medication can be additionally improved in particular inconjunction with a processing device which is suitable for opening apacking; the packing of the medicament or the combination of medicamentsis then opened exclusively if the computer instructs the processingdevice to open the packing after a positive aptitude test.

In addition to the foregoing examples from the medical field, theaptitude test system in accordance with the invention can also be usedin other fields. A further embodiment will be described hereinafter byway of example. In conformity with an advantageous embodiment, the testdevice may be a cash register or be integrated in such a register. Theobjects are then consumer products provided with a date of expiry, untilwhich appropriate use of the object is to be ensured. The objects arenotably items of food which should be consumed before the date ofexpiry. The aptitude data of such objects then includes at least thedate of expiry associated with the relevant object. Modern cashregisters operate with an optical reading apparatus which reads the dataprovided on the relevant articles, usually being an article number. Onthe basis of the article number a computer of the cash register canassociate an article description as well as the price of the articlewith the article. In accordance with the invention it is proposed to addthe date of expiry to the data associated with the article, so that uponreading the date of expiry can also be read so as to compare it with thecurrent date. When this aptitude test reveals that the date of expiry ofthe relevant article has already been passed, the computer generates thealarm signal which initiates, for example, in the test device or thecash register, the output of an optical and/or acoustic alarm. Thecustomer can then be informed that the date of expiry has been passedand the customer can then decide whether or not to purchase the articlenevertheless. Additionally, or alternatively, a reduced price could beautomatically assigned to the relevant article if the date of expirydate has been passed. The resultant enhanced comfort and advantages forthe user as well as the advantages in respect of customer friendlinessfor the warehouses will be evident.

Further important features and advantages of the invention will becomeapparent from the dependent claims, the drawings and the descriptiongiven with reference to the drawings.

It is to be understood that the features mentioned above and clarifiedhereinafter can be used not only in the respective stated combinations,but also in other combinations or individually, without departing fromthe scope of the present invention.

Preferred embodiments of the invention are shown in the drawings andwill be elucidated in the following description in which identicalreferences relate to identical or functionally identical or similarcomponents.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of an object in a packing provided with a datacarrier, and

FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram of an aptitude test system in accordancewith the invention.

As is shown in FIG. 1, an object 1 which is denoted by a dashed line isprovided with a data carrier 2 which is in this case provided on apacking 3 in which the object 1 is packed. In another embodiment thedata carrier 2 may also be provided directly on the object 1, forexample, when the data carrier 2 can be read through the packing 3 orwhen there is no packing 3. The data carrier 2 is a one-dimensional barcode in the present embodiment. The data carrier 2 may also be formed bya two-dimensional bar code. Furthermore, in principle any other datacarrier 2 is feasible, notably magnetic, electronic and optical datamemories.

The object 1 may in principle be an arbitrary object. In the describedpreferred embodiment the object 1 is assumed to be, by way of example, acartridge 1′ which can be used for the analysis of a body fluid samplein the context of a point of care diagnosis of a patient. Analogously,the following description also holds for an object 1 which is formed bya medicament 1″ or by a combination of medicaments 1′″.

The data carrier 2 contains aptitude data which is associated with theobject 1. This aptitude data characterizes one or more permissible usesfor the associated object 1. In as far as the object 1 concerns acartridge 1′, the aptitude data includes at least a date of expiry untilwhich the use of the cartridge 1′ is permissible. Furthermore, theaptitude data may also enable identification of the relevant type ofcartridge. In as far as the object 1 concerns a medicament 1″ or acombination of medicaments 1′″, the aptitude data advantageouslyincludes identification data which enables identification of themedicament 1″ or the combination of medicaments 1′″. Moreover, theaptitude data may also include a date of expiry for the medicament 1″ orthe combination of medicaments 1′″.

In conformity with FIG. 2, an aptitude test system 4 in accordance withthe invention includes not only an object 1 of this kind which isprovided with a data carrier 2, but also a test device 5. The testdevice 5 includes a reading apparatus 6 which is coupled to a computer7. The reading apparatus 6 is constructed in such a manner that it canread the aptitude data stored on the data carrier 2 so as to apply it tothe computer 7. The reading apparatus 6 in the embodiment shown hereinis an optical bar code reading apparatus 6. It will be evident that inprinciple arbitrary other suitable reading apparatus 6 can be used independence on the data carrier 2 used.

The computer 7 has access to actual application data which is stored,for example, in an appropriate data memory 8. This actual applicationdata characterizes a concrete application for which the actual object 1being tested is intended. For example, the application data includes thecurrent date. The computer 7 performs an aptitude test by evaluating theaptitude data of the concrete object 1 and the actual application data.For example, the computer 7 compares the date of expiry associated withthe object 1 with the current date. The computer 7 generates a releasesignal when the object 1 is suitable for the intended application.Alternatively, or additionally, the computer 7 generates an alarm signalwhen the object 1 is not suitable for the intended application.

A plurality of output units, that is, a display screen 9, an acousticsignal generator 10 and an optical signal generator 11, are connected tothe computer 7 in the embodiment shown herein. The result of therelevant aptitude test can be output by the computer 7 via at least oneof these output units 9, 10, 11. For example, in the case of a positiveresult of the aptitude test, the optical signal generator 11 can emit agreen light which informs the relevant user of the test device 5 thatthe object 1 is suitable for the intended application. In the case of anegative result of the aptitude test, the optical signal generator 11can advantageously emit a red light signal. Furthermore, the acousticsignal generator 10 can output a suitable alarm tone; for example, thereason why the result of the aptitude test is negative can be displayedon the display screen 9.

A preferred embodiment of the aptitude test system 4 also includes aprocessing device 12 which enables automatic processing of the object 1subsequent to the aptitude test. The processing device 12 in theembodiment shown herein is an opening device, that is, a processingdevice 12 which is arranged to open the packing 3. To this end, theprocessing device 12 includes a blade 13 which can be displaced relativeto its cutting edge 15 in conformity with a double arrow 14, therelevant drive, however, not being shown herein. This processing device12 is coupled to the test device 5 or to the computer 7 thereof. Thecomputer 7 can thus control the processing device 12 in dependence onthe aptitude test. If the result of the aptitude test is positive, theprocessing device 12 is controlled so as to open the packing 3. However,if the test result is negative, the processing device 12 is not drivenso that the packing 3 remains closed. Instead, for example, there may beactivated an invalidation device 16 which is provided with a stamp 18which is adjustable in conformity with a double arrow 17 and whereby theobject 1 or its packing 3 can be provided with a text indicating, forexample, the invalidation of the object 1. To this end, the invalidationdevice 16 is coupled to the test device 5 or to the computer 7 thereof.

The test device 5 or its computer 7, moreover, may be coupled to inputunits, for example, a keyboard 19 and/or another reading apparatus 20.For example, a patient identification code can be input into thecomputer 7 via such input units 19, 20, which code enables the computer7 to fetch patient data which may form part of the application data froma database 21 coupled thereto.

The aptitude test system 4 in accordance with the invention operates asfollows:

First Embodiment

The first embodiment to be described in detail hereinafter involves anobject 1 which is formed by a cartridge 1′ which is to be used in thecontext of a point of care patient diagnosis. The cartridge 1′ is stillpresent in its packing 3 for better positioning. In order to enable thecartridge 1′ to be used for receiving a body fluid sample, it isnecessary to open the packing 3. To this end, the user inserts thepacking 3 into the processing device 12 so as to start an automaticopening procedure. Prior to the opening procedure the computer 7 readsthe aptitude data stored on the data carrier 2 and carries out theaptitude test in conjunction with the available application data. In thepresent case the computer 7 checks whether the date of expiry of thecartridge 1′ has already been passed or not. Furthermore, the user canenter further application data, for example, the type of diagnosisand/or the patient identification code of the relevant patient, via oneof the input units 19, 20. On the basis of the aptitude data, thecomputer 7 can then also check whether the cartridge 1′ being tested issuitable for the intended diagnosis or for the intended patient. Thecomputer 7 activates the processing device 12 to open the packing 3 onlyin the case of a positive result of the aptitude test. The relevant userthen unambiguously recognizes whether the relevant cartridge 1′ issuitable for the intended application or not. Furthermore, the usercannot omit this test, because the packing 3 is opened so as to removethe cartridge 1′ therefrom only after a positive test result.

Second Embodiment

In the case where the object 1 is a medicament 1″ or a combination ofmedicaments 1′″, it is also advantageous to accommodate the medicament1″ or the combination of medicaments 1′″ in a packing 3, for example, inan envelope which is provided with the data carrier 2. In thisembodiment the user again opens the packing 3 by means of the processingdevice 12 by introducing the packing 3 therein. Prior to the opening ofthe packing 3, the computer 7 has to receive the patient identificationcode via one of the input units 19, 20. Using this patientidentification code, the computer 7 can fetch from the database 21 thepatient data necessary for the medication of the selected patient.Furthermore, via the reading apparatus 6, the computer 7 reads theaptitude data of the medicament 1″ or the combination of medicaments1′″, said aptitude data containing the identification data for theidentification of the medicament 1″ or the combination of medicaments1′″ in the present case. The computer 7 can then determine whether ornot the intended medication is suitable for the selected patient bycomparing the aptitude data with the application data. The aptitude testthen includes notably the testing whether interactions could occur withother medicaments already taken by the relevant patient. Furthermore, itcan be tested whether the medication takes place at the prescribedinstant. Finally, the date of expiry of the relevant medicament 1″ orthe combination of medicaments 1′″ can be tested.

The computer 7 activates the processing device 12 so as to open thepacking 3 only after it has been ensured that the tested medicament 1″or the tested combination of medicaments 1′″ is suitable for theselected patient or is to be taken by the selected patient. The userthus unambiguously recognizes once more whether or not the selectedmedicaments 1″, 1′″ may be administered to the patient.

Third Embodiment

Whereas in the foregoing a description has been given of applicationsfrom the medical field, a completely different type of application willbe described hereinafter. For example, the object 1 may be an item offood 1″″ which is contained in a packing 3 and with which there is alsoassociated a data carrier 3. The data carrier 2 contains an articlenumber associated with the item of food 1″″ as well as a date of expiry.

The test device 5 is integrated in a cash register (not shown) or formsa part of such a cash register. Hereinafter this cash register will alsobe denoted by the reference numeral 5. The cash register 5 reads, viathe reading apparatus 6, the data stored on the data carrier 2 in orderto apply it to the computer 7. In addition to the article number,aptitude data, in this case in the form of the date of expiry, is thusalso transferred. Via a suitable clock the computer 7 knows the currentdate and can compare it with the supplied date of expiry of the item offood 1.″″ in order to carry out the aptitude test. The aptitude test isnegative at least when the date of expiry of the item of food 1″″ hasalready been passed. The cash register 5 then provides a correspondingalarm to the user. In a further embodiment it may additionally bearranged that such an alarm is provided already when a minimum period ofkeeping quality, commencing at the current date and guaranteed by theseller, can no longer be realized at the date of sale.

LIST OF REFERENCES

-   1 object-   2 data carrier-   3 packing-   4 aptitude test system-   5 test device-   6 reading apparatus-   7 computer-   8 data memory-   9 display screen-   10 acoustic signal generator-   11 optical signal generator-   12 processing device-   13 blade-   14 double arrow-   15 cutting edge-   16 invalidation device-   17 double arrow-   18 stamp-   19 keyboard-   20 reading apparatus-   21 database

1. An aptitude test system which is suitable for testing an object (1) in respect of its aptitude for an actual intended application, which system includes: at least one object (1) which is provided with a data carrier (2) on which data associated with the object (1) is stored, and a test device (5) which includes a reading apparatus (6) whereby the data of the data carrier (2) can be transferred to a computer (7) which is coupled to the reading apparatus (6), the data being or including aptitude data which characterizes one or more permissible applications for the associated object (1), the computer (7) having access to actual application data which characterizes a concrete application envisaged for the relevant object (1), the computer (7) evaluating the aptitude data of the relevant object (1) and the current application data for the aptitude testing of the relevant object and outputting a release signal when the object (1) is suitable for the intended application and/or an alarm signal when the object (1) is not suitable for the intended application.
 2. An aptitude test system as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the test device (5) is coupled to a processing device (12) which processes the relevant object (1), or a packing (3) of the object (1), in dependence on the result of the aptitude test.
 3. An aptitude test system as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that the object (1) includes a packing (3), that the processing device (12) is arranged to open the packing (3), and that the processing device (12) opens the packing (3) only when the computer (7) outputs the release signal.
 4. An aptitude test system as claimed in claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the processing device (12) invalidates and/or marks the object (1) or its packing (3) when the computer (7) outputs the alarm signal.
 5. An aptitude test system as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the test device (5) and/or the processing device (12) include an output unit (9, 10, 11) which provides the user of the test device (5) with an optical and/or acoustic indication of the result of the aptitude test.
 6. An aptitude test system as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the data carrier (2) is formed by a one-dimensional or two-dimensional bar code and that the reading apparatus (6) is formed by an optical bar code reading apparatus (6).
 7. An aptitude test system as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the aptitude data includes a date of expiry of the object (1) and that the application data includes the current date, the computer (7) generating the alarm signal when the date of expiry of the object (1) has been passed when the aptitude test is carried out.
 8. An aptitude test system as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the object (1) is a medicament (1″) and/or a combination of medicaments (1′″), the aptitude data includes a date of expiry of the medicament (1″) or the combination of medicaments (1′″) and/or identification data enabling identification of the medicament (1″) or the combination of medicaments (1′″), the application data includes the current date and/or the current time and/or patient data required for medication of a patient so as to administer the medicament (1″) and/or the combination of medicaments (1′″) to a concrete patient, the computer (7) generates the alarm signal when the medicament (1″) or the combination of medicaments (1′″) is not suitable for administration to the intended patient.
 9. An aptitude test system as claimed in claim 8, characterized in that the computer (7) has access to a database (21) in which the patient data of a plurality of patients is stored, and that the computer (7) can receive, via an input unit (19, 20) or the reading apparatus (6), a patient identification code of the actual patient intended to be administered the medicament (1″) or the combination of medicaments (1′″), said patient identification code enabling the computer (7) to access the patient data of the relevant patient in the database (21).
 10. An aptitude test system as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the object (1) is a cartridge (1′) intended for carrying out point of care diagnosis of a body fluid sample taken from a patient.
 11. An aptitude test system as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the test device (5) is a cash register or is integrated in such a cash register, the aptitude data is formed by a date of expiry associated with the relevant object (1) or contains this date of expiry, the application data is formed by the current date or by a given minimum period of keeping quality which commences at the current date, or includes the current date or said minimum period of keeping quality, the computer (7) generates the alarm signal when the date of expiry has been passed and/or when it is about to pass and/or when it will be passed within the minimum period of keeping quality. 